Oxygen Therapy

Oxygen therapy is breathing supplemental oxygen when the lungs can't keep blood oxygen at safe levels. It saves lives in severe pneumonia, COPD, heart failure, and post-COVID lung disease. Home oxygen is medicine, not a general wellness tool — it is prescribed when clinically needed, not because it "feels better".

When it's used

• Short-term: severe pneumonia, asthma or COPD flare, heart failure, post-operative, COVID-19 pneumonia.
• Long-term home oxygen: chronic severe COPD, interstitial lung disease, pulmonary hypertension, cystic fibrosis, in people whose resting oxygen stays low (SpO2 consistently ≤ 88% on room air, or pO2 ≤ 55 mm Hg).
• Short-burst ambulatory oxygen for people who desaturate only on exertion.

Practical in India

• Oxygen concentrators (electric machines that filter oxygen from room air) are the usual home device — widely available for purchase or rental since the COVID surge.
• Oxygen cylinders are used for short-term needs and when power is unreliable.
• Liquid oxygen systems for mobility are less common in India.
• Pulse oximeters — a simple, cheap SpO2 device at home is useful for monitoring.
• Under Ayushman Bharat / state schemes, long-term home oxygen may be partly supported for eligible patients — ask your pulmonologist's social worker.

Using it safely

• No smoking, candles, incense, or open flames near oxygen. Oxygen does not burn but makes everything else burn fiercely and fast.
• Keep at least 6 feet away from heaters, gas stoves, electric sparks.
• Use water-based lubricant (not petroleum jelly) on nose and lips if dry.
• Regular servicing of concentrators; back-up cylinder for power cuts.
• Don't change the flow rate on your own — your prescription is based on a titration.
• Long-term oxygen only works if used at least 15 hours/day — wear at night and with activity.

Myths

• "Oxygen is addictive." — Not true. It's a treatment for low blood oxygen, like insulin for diabetes.
• "More oxygen is always better." — No. In COPD, too much oxygen can worsen carbon dioxide retention and cause drowsiness/coma; follow prescribed flow rate.
• "Hyperbaric oxygen / "immunity" oxygen bars" — not evidence-based for general wellness.